> Doug wrote:
>
>> The TP is another chapter in the revolt of the haves.
>>
>
> Kinda depends on your definition of haves. While about 20% based on
> the latest poll do fall in the top quintile the majority fall in the
> 3/5 portion.[....]
Not to beat a dead horse, but - once again - these income numbers are basically meaningless. Not only do the TP live more in the South. Not only do they live more in rural areas. They're also *much* more likely to be retired, which on average means lower current incomes (and lower mortgage payments).
The only available data that give a reliable picture of overall SES are education. And when you look at real Tea Party supporters (people who say they follow news about the TP and strongly support it), their education profile as a group mirrors that of households around the 80+ percentile.
SA